[Bigblue#4]

I will be the first to say that WYMT has Belfry ranked too high.

But, for ANYONE.. to list Pike Central ahead of Belfry and Sheldon Clark, they instantly lose all credibility.

1. Bell County


2. Johnson Central


3. Somerset
4. Pulaski County
5. Letcher Central
6. Knox Central
7. Sheldon Clark
8. Lawrence County
9. Belfry
10. Perry Central

Think what u want to but Pike central is loaded and u will see, They have one the best coachs in mts.

[easyM]

I don't know about that. I can't see that happening.

I agree Amped. That ain't happening.

[EKUAlum05]

Think what u want to but Pike central is loaded and u will see, They have one the best coachs in mts.

I never said they were a bad team..but until they can prove they can beat Belfry (they have never done it...EVER) and SC at full strength, then I can't validate putting them in front of those two teams. Additionally, PC lost several key players off of last years team, in particular at the skill positions.

Chapman appears to be a very good coach, but his laurels as a HC can be argued against what Hager has achieved, and it is not even fair to try and judge him against Phillip Haywood.

[ROCKSOLID69]

1. Bell County
2. Pulaski County
3. Johnson Central
4. Belfry
5. Somerset
6. Letcher Co. Central
7. Sheldon Clark
8. Harlan County
9. Prestonsburg
10. Corbin

looks good to me. i do think Knox central should be in there some where

[wooderson]

Seems like everyone is writing Pike Central off as a joke. Even though last season they only went 7-6 they had a new coach and a new system they had to adapt to, which isnt very easy at all. 7-6 at most powerhouse programs isnt nothing to brag about but that was the most wins ever in school history. Not to mention the were competive in every game.Coach Chapman had to build this program from the ground up and is still a work in progress. If you watch the kids this year it is as if they have a new fill to them maybe a little of swagger.Over this off season they have added a significant amount of talent to there roster also. The Boggs kid from Perry Central which has a cannon for a arm and the size to go with it. I dont look for him to have a record breaking year becouse its his first year as a starter. Chapman will help him manage the game and he will turn into one of the best Qb in the mountain. The Shouse kid that came from Breathitt would have been apart of a great Sophmore class that the Bobcats have. He started Middle LB last year for the Bobcats as a Freshman. He either lead the team INT or shared it with Fugate. He also had a lot of big hits. This kid made a hit last week that is on You Tube under Cory Shouse. One of the biggest hits ive seen in a long time. So if anyone wants to doubt Chapman just look at his resume. He has 3 state titles and has proven he can win!

I'll be one of many people to agree that Chapman is a good coach and has turned quite a few heads in his one year at Pike Central but his "3 state titles" were as a defensive coordinator. If you dont think there is a huge difference winning a state title by really only dealing with one side of the ball as opposed to being the "man" then you are mistaken. Head Coaches receive the brunt of the criticism in bad losses and the credit for big wins is no where equal. Being a fan of all Pike Co. football I want to reserve a verdict on the long term outcome and rise of Central football. I hope they get to where a majority of their fans think they are right now but in reality their accomplishments are very small and fans of the Hawks need to lay back and wait until they have something to hang their hat on before making such outlandish predictions.

[Jumper Dad]

Last Years Top 10 for Comparison

1. Breathitt County
2. Bell County
3. Johnson Central
4. Belfry
5. Whitley County
6. Corbin
7. Pulaski County
8. Letcher Central
9. Prestonsburg
10. Knox Central

[Football1]

I think KC should had been Top 5 in it. I guess there going by the record from last year too. Didnt KC go like 7-5 last year?

I do believe we were.

This is the most excited our community has ever been about football. Our players believe. Fumbles, crazy calls, mental errors, and the like could cause this season to be "just another close call". But if the talent plays like they are capable - it will be a season to remember for our community and these players.

[Poseidon]

Do not get too wrapped up in these rakings. No one has played a snap yet of meaningful football and these rankings are pretty much a guess, as many rankings are.

[bulldog42]

Last Years Top 10 for Comparison

1. Breathitt County
2. Bell County
3. Johnson Central
4. Belfry
5. Whitley County
6. Corbin
7. Pulaski County
8. Letcher Central
9. Prestonsburg
10. Knox Central

Do you have the end of the year top 10? The one that actually matters the most? Not being smart at all. Just curious.

[Bigblue#4]

I never said they were a bad team..but until they can prove they can beat Belfry (they have never done it...EVER) and SC at full strength, then I can't validate putting them in front of those two teams. Additionally, PC lost several key players off of last years team, in particular at the skill positions.

Chapman appears to be a very good coach, but his laurels as a HC can be argued against what Hager has achieved, and it is not even fair to try and judge him against Phillip Haywood.

I'm not even a Pike Central fan, but I do no talent and Pike Central has plenty of it. This team is going to be like Breathitt was back 95 when no one thought they could win it and they believe in each other and got the job done they had no hype until the end of the season. I see alot of people saying that he was just a D cord. well he was the one calling alot of the offense to. I will promise that they will beat Belfry this year at least once and i think they will be right in thick of things for a state title. You can call me crazy but just remember that I said it first when there playing in first of December.

[OrangenowBlue]

Breathitt County had a winning tradition way before 1995

[Bigblue#4]

I'll be one of many people to agree that Chapman is a good coach and has turned quite a few heads in his one year at Pike Central but his "3 state titles" were as a defensive coordinator. If you dont think there is a huge difference winning a state title by really only dealing with one side of the ball as opposed to being the "man" then you are mistaken. Head Coaches receive the brunt of the criticism in bad losses and the credit for big wins is no where equal. Being a fan of all Pike Co. football I want to reserve a verdict on the long term outcome and rise of Central football. I hope they get to where a majority of their fans think they are right now but in reality their accomplishments are very small and fans of the Hawks need to lay back and wait until they have something to hang their hat on before making such outlandish predictions.

Regional runner up isn't to shabby in his first year, considering that they probabley haven't ever been to the second round.

[Bigblue#4]

Breathitt County had a winning tradition way before 1995

Never a state contender, Before 95 far as they made it was regional runner up.

[EKUAlum05]

I'm not even a Pike Central fan, but I do no talent and Pike Central has plenty of it. This team is going to be like Breathitt was back 95 when no one thought they could win it and they believe in each other and got the job done they had no hype until the end of the season. I see alot of people saying that he was just a D cord. well he was the one calling alot of the offense to. I will promise that they will beat Belfry this year at least once and i think they will be right in thick of things for a state title. You can call me crazy but just remember that I said it first when there playing in first of December.

People that have been on here long enough know that I am a man of my word and will eat my crow, and eat it publicly for all to see if by some obscure chance the universe aligns and I am somehow wrong :biggrin:.

With that being said... consider this post as marked and it will definitely be brought up again in the future if Pike Central adds another year of losing onto the streak.

[bucslover68]

I will give Pike County Central all the respect they deserve. They have played Belfry close one time, one time, in the history of the series, and that was last year. Playing someone close and beating them are two different matters. Pike Central has never beaten Belfry and I do not expect them to this year, but if they do then they will deserve some props. I think it is great that at least one pre-season poll has Belfry, Sheldon Clark, and PCC in the top ten in 3A. However, to sell the Pirates short is always bad. Belfry has a great history of beating other teams that make their head-to-head games a bigger deal than do the Pirates. Be prepared PCC when you come to the CAM.

[CoachM]

All these rankings are great but they really are a joke, most people in the media are clueless when it comes to athletics. The media thats all I have to say!

[OrangenowBlue]

You are right but the media is no more clueless then most of these posters.

[keepingitreal]

I guess since Im a poster and dont really know anything about highschool football in the state even though Ive been around it my whole life. I would say yes Breathitt had success before the 95 season. Lets compare some things. Breathitts football program started with Coach Hilton around 77 or 78 with about 35 players. Holcomb took over the program over in the mid 80s give or take a couple years. It wasnt until 89 breathitt made it to the regional championship game and I think they were beat by Russell but I could wrong. I think the 91 season the only won one game beating Knott county on Senior night at Knott Central. In 94 Breathitt made the trip to log mountain with a huge line and a great HB Breathitt lost 14 to 0 either the second round or third. 95 Chapman came along and helped win a State title in 95 and 96 42-0 straight wins. Chapman left Breathitt in 98 and 99 took Pikeville to the region and State semi final in two years. The second year he was relieved. On the other hand Holcomb in 98 was loaded with 20 seniors and went 11-3 losing to Danville in the state semi. 99 he went 11-2. Chapman and Holcomb reunited in 2000 to go on and win another state title in 2002 on the arm of Justin Haddix. So has Holcomb won anything without Chapman? NO! Has Chapman won anything without Holcomb its to early to tell he has only coached 3 years. When you say Breathitt was a winning program before 95 its not true. Breathitt had been playing football around 18 years before it came onto the scene. How long has Pike Central been playing 15 to 20 years. I remember in 2000 there was a three way to in that district between PCC, Belfry and PBurg. They also made it to the regional last year beating Mason so maybe it times for PCC to make a run. Its about the same time frame Breathitt took off. But what do I know Im just a simple poster on here

[cj2561]

By the end of the season, we see who is the real top 10. Belfry and Corbin with all that they lose should be in the top 10 yet. With all the kids that PCC have coming in from other schools this year, i would have them in the top 10. Knox Central in the top 10.

[PHS_JT]

I believe that P-Burg deserves the #4 spot considering they stomped the Belfry Pirates tonight 20-6..hmm I believe somebody was underestimating P-Burg a little too much in the preseason

[oneijoe]

(the final was actually 21-6)

Nothing new. Prestonsburg seems to be underestimated widely almost every year. But...that's the way we LIKE it.

:biggrin:

[RoShamBo]

(the final was actually 21-6)

Nothing new. Prestonsburg seems to be underestimated widely almost every year. But...that's the way we LIKE it.

:biggrin:

My thoughts exactly, I felt they were underrated last year preseason as well. Didn't get the respect they deserved until they basically ran through all the top 3A mountain teams. They may have been the second best team in the mountains behind Bell.

[OrangenowBlue]

That might be a stretch, I am sure Johnson Central has something to say about that.

[RoShamBo]

They might have something to say about it, but I don't see how it is a stretch. They were very good last season. I wasn't trying to start an argument just agreeing that I felt they have been underrated the past two seasons.

[OrangenowBlue]

I am just saying they are not the second best team in the mountains. Legitimate top five, yes, top two, no.

[StrayBullet]

Where should Lawrence be ranked?

[bulldog42]

Where should Lawrence be ranked?

We weren't ranked starting the year last year either. I think we finished top 4 or so. Not ranked again this year. It's all good. More motivation to a motivated group of kids. The end of the year is all that matters. I think Bell deserves #1 and probably Central #2. I think you could make an argument for us and others 3-10.

[StrayBullet]

We weren't ranked starting the year last year either. I think we finished top 4 or so. Not ranked again this year. It's all good. More motivation to a motivated group of kids. The end of the year is all that matters. I think Bell deserves #1 and probably Central #2. I think you could make an argument for us and others 3-10.

The more LCHS is disrespected the more motivation the boys have to take out their frustrations on their weekly opponent..next time Shelby Valley.

[Nasty]

I agree..Just toss P-burg up there!

[Valley Girl]

I believe Shelby Valley will continue to improve each week and be ready to make a run in the playoffs. I think they will be fine at the end of the year but Lawrence Co. is scary good.I know Valley has no chance against them but the game will help improve them for later games.